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<blockquote data-quote="Uller" data-source="post: 7466781" data-attributes="member: 413"><p>Yes...In a fantasy setting, we can come up with all manner of rp justifications for the DM having the monsters doing just about anything...we get it. </p><p></p><p>But could != should. Having the monster act on knowledge he shouldn't have just because he can and then retroactively coming up with an RP reason for it is, imo, not going to be much fun for anyone. It just leaves players feeling like the DM is trying to win.</p><p></p><p>But that is not really what I was talking about. The question was asked why is it an edge for the monsters to have group initiative while the PCs have individual initiative. The answer is there is a non-trivial chance the monsters will get to all go before the PCs can do anything just by dumb luck of the dice (or the PCs can all go before the monsters can do anything...if the monsters roll poorly). Since the monsters are only rolling one die while the PCs are rolling several, it increases the chances of the monsters all going first or all going last and that can significantly increase or decrease the difficulty of the encounter. I mainly mitigate this by having the monsters have an init score of 11+Dex mod and monsters lose ties. That way usually about half the PCs go first, then the monsters then the rest of the PCs. If the party all rolls really well or really badly things turn out differently but that isn't very often.</p><p></p><p>The example I gave (6 orcs vs 4 3rd level PCs) was intended to show how a "hard" encounter can suddenly turn deadly before the players even get a chance to act. My suggestion is that in that circumstance the DM blunt that edge just a bit by not having the monsters focus fire on one hapless PC while all 3 other PCs stand around with their thumbs up their butts. The RP justification is the monsters are acting as if the PCs CAN intervene...because as far as the monsters know, the big guy with the sword will probably object to them tearing apart his little friend.</p><p></p><p>If you would like to do otherwise, go for it. But as a DM that his been playing for a very long time (going on 40 years), I wouldn't recommend making a habit of that sort of thing. I don't think players generally find it interesting to have their PC chopped to bits without being able to do anything about it.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>There will be no harrowing chase if 6 orcs mob one 3rd level halfling rogue before anyone has a chance to act. Imxp, there will be a squished halfling and an annoyed player. Ymmv but I don't think anyone would find that interesting. Memorable maybe. But not interesting.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Uller, post: 7466781, member: 413"] Yes...In a fantasy setting, we can come up with all manner of rp justifications for the DM having the monsters doing just about anything...we get it. But could != should. Having the monster act on knowledge he shouldn't have just because he can and then retroactively coming up with an RP reason for it is, imo, not going to be much fun for anyone. It just leaves players feeling like the DM is trying to win. But that is not really what I was talking about. The question was asked why is it an edge for the monsters to have group initiative while the PCs have individual initiative. The answer is there is a non-trivial chance the monsters will get to all go before the PCs can do anything just by dumb luck of the dice (or the PCs can all go before the monsters can do anything...if the monsters roll poorly). Since the monsters are only rolling one die while the PCs are rolling several, it increases the chances of the monsters all going first or all going last and that can significantly increase or decrease the difficulty of the encounter. I mainly mitigate this by having the monsters have an init score of 11+Dex mod and monsters lose ties. That way usually about half the PCs go first, then the monsters then the rest of the PCs. If the party all rolls really well or really badly things turn out differently but that isn't very often. The example I gave (6 orcs vs 4 3rd level PCs) was intended to show how a "hard" encounter can suddenly turn deadly before the players even get a chance to act. My suggestion is that in that circumstance the DM blunt that edge just a bit by not having the monsters focus fire on one hapless PC while all 3 other PCs stand around with their thumbs up their butts. The RP justification is the monsters are acting as if the PCs CAN intervene...because as far as the monsters know, the big guy with the sword will probably object to them tearing apart his little friend. If you would like to do otherwise, go for it. But as a DM that his been playing for a very long time (going on 40 years), I wouldn't recommend making a habit of that sort of thing. I don't think players generally find it interesting to have their PC chopped to bits without being able to do anything about it. There will be no harrowing chase if 6 orcs mob one 3rd level halfling rogue before anyone has a chance to act. Imxp, there will be a squished halfling and an annoyed player. Ymmv but I don't think anyone would find that interesting. Memorable maybe. But not interesting. [/QUOTE]
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